Fun at Appleton Farms Sugar Shack

B takes a look at the steaming maple sap at Appleton Farms' Sugar Shack!

We decided to check out the Appleton Farms Sugar Shack recently and loved the whole experience! This new operation is taking advantage of the many maples that line the trails and dirt roads that criss-cross the farm, and they're boiling down as much as they can so that eventually there will be a small supply of pure maple syrup available at the farm store!  

[flickr-photo:id=8502091486,size=m]
The Sugar Shack at Appleton Farms is located right next to the visitor's center.

The Sugar shack is located right next to the welcoming center at the farm, making it very easy to find.  When we arrived there was a lull in the wind and the little shed building that houses the boiler was enveloped in a cloud of steam.  We walked in to find the four stage boiler throwing enourmous amounts of steam into the air that made the shack feel like a steam bath.  Becky Fahey of the Trustees was manning the wood-fired boiler and we were encouraged to head out to the trails to taste the sap as it came out of the tree and come back for a taste of what they were making.

[flickr-photo:id=8500984665,size=m]
Sap is collected in buckets one drip at a time!

B and I headed out and soon came some maples that had been tapped with old style metal spickets that served as the tap for the tree and an anchor for the bucket collecting the sap. On the way, B found a perfect stick - not that we needed it - but it seems that 5 year olds are compelled to find a good stick whenever they get close to the woods.

We found a bucket with a loose cover and I dipped a dixie cup into it so that we could have a taste.  The flavor was sweet but not overly so, there was a little bit of woody taste to it, and the best way to describe it would be lightly sweetened water.

[flickr-photo:id=8500984463,size=m]
Tasting the sap right our of the tree!

I have to admit that knowing what the sap is used to make raised my expectations of what the sap would taste like, and the real thing was not at all what I expected. B could have stayed right there at the tree and finished off the entire bucket, but I encouraged him to race me back to the Sugar Shack to have a taste of the really sweet stuff.

The atmosphere at the sugar shack was very relaxed. People were chatting with one another and just enjoying the experience of taking place in a New England tradition that dates back to a time before Europeans arrived in North America.

There was a mom in there with her kids and one of them let it slip that it was her birthday, so we all sang her the birthday song - a nice community effort to bond us all for just a moment! The mom was a little embarassed, but in the end she had a nice smile when we all shouted, 'Hurray'! The kids in the shack loved it.

[flickr-photo:id=8500984319,size=m]
Becky Fahey of the Trustees kept things running smoothly!

We hung around inside learned about the boiling process, the four stage boiler, and the ratios involved.  We were then offered a shot right from the boiler and after letting it cool, we had a taste of pure sweetness - it was really good, and the surroundings only added to how tasty it was.  B was even able to con another shot out of Becky before we left.

We learned that the ratio is 40:1, meaning that you will end up with 1 gallon of syrup by boiling down 40 gallons of sap. That ratio is huge and explains why buying real maple syrup will break the bank as opposed to the table syrups that are basically some kind of modified corn syrup flavored with sotolon - a maple like flavoring.

[flickr-photo:id=8500984363,size=m]
Don't leave Appleton Farms without picking up some farm fresh milk at the farm store. This is the best milk on the North Shore!

If you can make it to the Sugar Shack, you won't regret it.  Your kids will learn all about a locally made food, the tradition behind it and open more doors to learning by exploring the history of maple sugaring.  The experience of tasting the raw sap from the bucket and the actual product in making is a learning opportunity that your kids will remember. Just make sure you wear boots if the weather is Spring-like the farm was pretty muddy due to a late winter thaw the day we went. And don't forget to pick up farm-fresh milk and dairy products from the farm store when you're leaving. This is the best milk on the North Shore!

The next events at the Sugar Shack are more Sugar Shack at Appleton Farrms and teens can volunteer for duty at the Sugar Shack afterschool to take part the Afterschool Sugaring Crew.

Location: 
Shore School in Beverly Massachusetts offers a host of Summer programs for kids aged 5-12

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!
8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Annual ECTA Equine Expo & Tack Sale

Essex County Trail Association is hosting the annual Equine EXPO at Topsfield Fairgrounds
Don't miss the 30th annual Equine EXPO & Tack Sale, Saturday, April 26th 2025 from 9-3 in the Arena Building at the Topsfield Fairgrounds on Route 1, Topsfield, MA. Individuals, groups & businesses will make up our booths offering new and used items as well as services for the horse and...
9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Family Day at the Bird Banding Station

Kids will learn about local and migrating birds at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts
There's nothing like a visit to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for wonderful family nature experiences, and seeing the bird banding station in operation is at the top of the list. See Mass Audubon scientists evaluate and release migrant songbirds while you learn about migration and habitat...
9:00 am to 11:30 am

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

Home and Food Truck show at the Topfield Fairground in Massachusetts
The annual Topsfield Home & Food Truck Show is ALL INDOORS with FREE admission and FREE parking. Come speak to leading home industry professionals about your spring home projects. Don't Forget to Enjoy the Food Trucks!
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Aleppo Shriners Circus

Aleppo Shriners Circus in Wilmington Massachusetts is a great time for the whole family!
Fun for the whole family! Let us help you make memories this April Vacation with a show they won't forget!The all-new Aleppo Shriners Circus thrills during April school vacation week. Enjoy elephant rides, clown photos, and all sorts of exciting acts - right up close.
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

April Vacation Week at MFA - Boston

April Vacation Week at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Massachusetts
All are invited to April Vacation Week for free activities exploring connections between the people, places, and art made in Massachusetts. All ages and abilities are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required. See Visiting with Kids and Family for more information.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

April Vacation at MIT Museum

Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during April Vacation Week!
Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities and pop-up surprises planned for the week of April 17-23. See our week-at-glance calendar to view the extended hours and additions for our drop-in...
Where: MIT Museum
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

LEGO Club at Salem Public Library

Come to the Salem Massachusetts Public Library for an afternoon of LEGO and fun!
Salem Public Library hosts a morning session of LEGO fun! We provide the LEGO, you provide the imagination.  Stop by the library on Saturday mornings (every other Saturday) to play and build.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

April Vacation at CAM

Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts has some great April Vacation programs for school aged kids!
This April Vacation, young visitors are invited to discover the art and history of Cape Ann at the CAM Green!  Explore the newest exhibition, Breath of Life – C.B. Fisk, Designers & Builders of Pipe Organs to learn about these incredible instruments. View intricate models of the architectural...
10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Earth Day Live Animal Demo at Halibut Point

Earthday Frog Turtle and Salamander Demo at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts
DCR hosts a live animal demonstration at Halibut Point State Park to celebrate Earth Day! Live frogs, turtles, and salamanders, our vernal pond ambassadors, will visit Halibut Point with Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Fairy Gnome Discovery Walk at Pettengill Farm

Pettengill Farm and Salisbury PTA in Salisbury is hosting a gnome and fairy discovery walk
Come to the tenth annual Fairy Gnome Discovery Walk at Pettengill Farm. The gems of the event are the near 200 Fairy and Gnome Homes peppered throughout a 1 mile wooded path that leads to the salt marsh and back. Homes are created by very talented professionals, families, school children, and local...
11:00 am to 3:00 pm

Live Animal Presentation at Halibut Point

Come to Halibut Point State Park for a live animal presentation featuring turtles, frogs and salamanders.
Come to a Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team presentation at Halibut Point State Park to get an up-close view and learn all about vernal pond creatures you
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

YMCAs Healthy Kids Day in Danvers

The Danvers YMCA is holding a free community event to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active all summer long. Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s national initiative to improve families’ health and well-being. Free community event on Saturday, April 26 (12:30-3:00) with fun for the whole...
12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Sunday, April 27

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Beverly YMCA Rhino Run 10k

North Shore Beverly YMCA 'Rhino Run' 10k Beverly Massachusetts.
Join North Shore YMCA and the Beverly YMCA host the 'Rhino Run 10k'. North Shore YMCA reinvests millions of dollars each year through financial assistance and scholarships to ensure thousands of families and individuals in the 25 communities we serve have access to programming, services and the...
Where: Lynch Park
9:00 am

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

April Vacation at MIT Museum

Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during April Vacation Week!
Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities and pop-up surprises planned for the week of April 17-23. See our week-at-glance calendar to view the extended hours and additions for our drop-in...
Where: MIT Museum
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

Home and Food Truck show at the Topfield Fairground in Massachusetts
The annual Topsfield Home & Food Truck Show is ALL INDOORS with FREE admission and FREE parking. Come speak to leading home industry professionals about your spring home projects. Don't Forget to Enjoy the Food Trucks!
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Aleppo Shriners Circus

Aleppo Shriners Circus in Wilmington Massachusetts is a great time for the whole family!
Fun for the whole family! Let us help you make memories this April Vacation with a show they won't forget!The all-new Aleppo Shriners Circus thrills during April school vacation week. Enjoy elephant rides, clown photos, and all sorts of exciting acts - right up close.
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Monday, April 28

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am